The Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey (SANYNJ) has announced the appointment of industry veteran John Atkins as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Atkins steps into the role to succeed Susan Winfree, who is retiring in February 2027 following a distinguished 16-year tenure with SANYNJ and a career spanning more than 30 years in the maritime sector. During her time with the association, Winfree notably served as Vice President of Workforce Development & Corporate Diversity Officer, spearheading initiatives that successfully onboarded more than 1,000 longshore workers, which included over 700 U.S. military veterans.
Atkins brings 40 years of maritime industry experience to SANYNJ, boasting extensive leadership credentials across both ocean carrier and marine terminal operations.
Most recently, Atkins served as Chief Executive Officer at Port Liberty USA, where he directed the daily operations and strategic oversight of two container terminals in New York and New Jersey. His deep regional industry involvement includes serving on the SANYNJ Board of Directors from 2014 to 2026, as well as leadership roles with the Metropolitan Marine Maintenance Contractors’ Association (MMMCA), the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey, and Signal Mutual. Additionally, he chaired the Port of New York FMC Discussion Agreement and the Sustainable Terminal Services Group for 11 years.
Throughout his executive career, Atkins has held senior management positions at major global shipping lines, including CMA CGM and NYK. He began his professional journey at SeaLand after earning a Bachelor of Science in Management Science from Kean University.
In his new capacity at SANYNJ, Atkins will oversee and coordinate day-to-day operations tied to crucial labor agreements. This includes managing collective bargaining oversight with the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the Port Police and Guards Union (PPGU) within the Port of New York and New Jersey.
